Exhibition-coop.



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EXHIBITION COOP.

{Application filed Mar. 19, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNTTED STATES PATENT QFFICEG EDWARD STORRS FREEMAN, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

EXHIBITION-COOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,1 50, dated November 19, 1901.

Application filed March 19, 1901. Serial No. 51,851. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD STORRs FREE- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainville, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Exhibition- Coops; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forms a part of this specification.

My invention relates to exhibition-coops for use at poultry-shows, and has for its object the production of an inclosure adapted to be taken apart when not in use and capable of being stored in comparatively small space and constructed of very light materials in order that it may be easily transported from place to place where exhibitions are to be given.

A further object of my invention is to provide a portable coop of the character stated in which there may be comprised a number of compartments or individual coops, the size of which can be varied with the view of confining either a single chicken or pair or more, or turkeys, or geese, or anything, either fowls or small animals, which it is desired to place for public inspection in easily-cleaned, well-lighted, and inexpensive series of contiguous cages.

Each constituent element of my invention is described in detail and its individual office, together with the mode of operation of the whole, fully explained hereinbelow.

The accompanying drawing represents in perspective a portion of an exhibition-coop embodying my invention and shows the various details of construction.

Letters A, B, and C mark wooden trestles, upon which it is customary to support the boards D, constituting the table upon which my invention is erected. It is most convenient thus to construct a supporting-platform, adding as it does to the appearance of the exhibit and raising the coops to such a height as to enable the fowls to be directly and, if desired, closely examined by the observer. My invention could be put up on the ground;

but, as stated, the platform is 'a jdecidedly preferable auxiliary.

As usually constructed my inve tion consists of a top rail E, which is a strip of any length having holes e e bored through it at intervals, as shown, and a bottom rail F, preeisely like rail E and provided with a corresponding series of holes ff. Strips E and F and likewise the cap-strip to be mentioned later are usually cut into convenient lengths for handling, and when placed in position their meeting ends are joined by means of side cleats f f, shown as connecting two portions of rail F. Wooden rods G, passed verhole h These panel-frame rails project slightly at the side and are bored to accommodate the rods G. Thetop rail E rests on top of frames H, and the frames rest upon the bottom rail F, the rods passing through all. To keep the panels from dropping at the rear, I secure at the rear lower corner of each frame a block h, which rests upon the platform-boards D and holds the panel level.

From the foregoing it will be understood in what manner the front and division walls of my invention are constructed and set up on the platform, and it is believed to be clear that the separate compartments may be made of any desired width by placing the panels at a greater or less distance apart.

My invention being primarily for exhibition purposes contemplates the erection of two rows of compartments back to back. The compartments need not be and in practice seldom are allof one size. Thus the rear uprights of the panels do not necessarily meet. In the drawing two are shown as meeting and the others are irregularly situated. However located, the panels are held in place by the back cap-strip J, of any length,through which pins, screws, ornails j are passed into the rear upper corners of frames H.

When two rows of coops are thus erected back to back, one roll of fabric serves as the rear wall of all the compartments. The division or back cloth is marked K in the drawing, and it is secured to the frames H Wherever deemed necessary by tacks 7c, driven into the rear uprights of the rectangular panel-frames. In several instances I have omitted the strip J, as it has been found that the tacks in the rear cloth wall K hold the panels in place.

Very often it is desirable to cover either all or certain compartments. For this purpose I provide the frames L, covered with wire net. These net-covered frames are of such different sizes as experience and special conditions call for. Under certain circumstances I use a roll of suitable wire net extending entilQll LQVM the tops ofa l the compartments.

It is my custom to paint the wooden portions of the platforms white as well as those wooden strips and rods constituting my invention to agree with the color of the panels and back cloth, thereby giving to the whole a very neat and attractive aspect.

I am aware that exhibition-coops have been constructed which may be taken apart for storage or transportation, and I, do not claim that feature broadly.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an exhibition-coop, the combination of the top and bottom rails, a plurality of removable rods, the said rails being provided with series of holes for receiving the rods, removable panels adapted to partition the coop into compartments, the said panels having at their front sides devices through which either of the rods may be passed whereby the width of any compartment may be varied with respect to the others, and a rear Wall adapted to be secured at any point to the rear side of the said panels, substantially as described.

2. In an exhibition-coop, the combination of the top and bottom rails, a plurality of rods, the said rails being provided with series of devices for holding the rods, removable panels adapted to partition the said coop into compartments, the said panels being'provided with devices for engaging the rods, and a fabric rear wall secured to the said panels and holding them at the required distance apart, substantially as described.

3. In an exhibition-coop, the combination of the top and bottom rails provided with series of holes, a plurality of rods passing through the said rails, panels adapted to partition the coop into compartments, the said panels being provided with upper and lower rails bored to receive the said rods, a fabric rear wall secured to the said panels, and means arranged at the rear of the said panels for holding them at the required distance apart, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD STORES FREEHAN.

Witnesses:

J. N. BULL, C. S. WOODRUFF. 

